NC 14th General Convention; party advised focusing on political and ideological discourse

Kathmandu: Various political parties have urged the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) to come up with a clear roadmap along with holding an ideological and political discourse through its upcoming 14th General Convention so to give an outlet to the country from the current situation.

The major opposition party and other political parties appealed with the ruling party NC to do so since they acknowledged that the NC was a democratic country and had been playing a leading role in major movements for the establishment of democracy in the country.

In view of the NC’s upcoming 14th national convention scheduled for December 10-12 in Kathmandu, major opposition party CPN (UML) vice-chairperson Subash Nembang advised the NC to launch policy level discourse as, he viewed, the three major organs of the country were not functioning effectively at this moment.

Talking to Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), former Speaker Nembang said, “The parliament is not functioning well, the judiciary is jeopardised, many issues are raised in the country. Amid this, Nepali Congress is preparing for the national convention. It should be thoughtful about how to take the country out of the current situation.”

Extending best wishes to the NC for the success of its upcoming much-awaited national convention, UML parliamentary party’s deputy leader Nembang said,” The national convention of all political parties should be conducted democratically and with proper procedures. I believe this will make the parliamentary system strong. I hope the Nepali Congress will abide by the same belief.”

The NC is going to hold its national convention with the slogan ‘Let’s make enthusiasm, unity and transformation success.

Known to the world as a Democratic Party, NC has shown noticeable democratic practices while electing the representatives for the General Convention this time.

Chairperson of the Rashtriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC has lauded the NC for its contribution to the democratic movements of the country that established a democratic and republic against the autocratic Rana regime and regression.
“The NC is in favour of movements for positive political transformation. It should hold a political discourse not only for the party leadership but also for its policy,” he said.

Leader of the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Laxman Lal Karna viewed that the NC should have a clear policy and vision on the development of the country while stating that it has been established as a democratic party in the country.

The 14th party general convention will elect a 134-member leadership including a president, two vice presidents and general secretaries each and eight joint-general secretaries. A total of 4,700 representatives are expected to cast their vote in the elections. Matured in the country’s parliamentary practice, the NC won 73 seats in the House of Representatives in the 1959 general election, 111 in 1991, 83 in the 1994 mid-term election and again 111 seats in the 1999 general election.

The 238-year-old Shah dynasty was ended by the movements led by the NC. Having won a majority in the 330-member HoR that was reinstated following the national movement-II, the party was shrunk to only 114 seats in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections for the total 601 seats in the HoR.

CPN (Maoist Centre)’s leader Giriraj Mani Pokhrel claimed the 2015 Constitution remained as a consensus document between the NC and the Communist parties, terming the NC a political force fighting feudalism in the country. “The NC established during the movement against the Rana regime had a history of having suffered counteractions for its protest against the tyranny. Despite differing views on the form of governance and other some issues, we are the current coalition partners.”

Recalling the collective struggle against regression at home, former Minister Pokhrel argued that five political parties got an opportunity to run the incumbent coalition government because of their common understanding of the protection of the Constitution and the consolidation of democracy.

As he opined, NC active cadres spent less time in the ideological discourse on the eve of the General Convention and advised the major ruling partner to get focused on ideological and political debates.

The NC that entered the House with 33 members as the second-largest party in the 2017 House of Representatives elections has been successful in leading the current coalition government comprising five political parties. Party’s two last presidents Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala who would call party former presidents BP Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Subarna Shamser Rana, Ganeshman Singh and Mahendra Narayan Nidhi as their ideals had their specific contribution to the nation’s politics.

In view of former Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, NC carries a glorious history as it had a leading role in the democratic movements launched at home at different times. “I wish the party could focus on ideological discussions during its 14th General Convention.”

The party had got an opportunity to facilitate the promulgation of the 2015 historic Constitution that guarantees federalism, republic, secularism, proportional and inclusive representation and socialism-oriented economy. Despite having frequent opportunities to lead the country, it has been blamed for the failure to assimilate people’s aspirations for development.